Unexpected Visit

The half-Russian named Aleksei Sokolov, who publically went by Jin Qing, was a man that could combat anything. He had a handsome, rugged look that scared children but attracted older married women. His colleagues feared him. He unnerved the New Empress to the point where she would make business propositions, to which he politely declined. He worked for no one but himself. It had always been that way. 

And yet, he spent the last twenty minutes of his evening painting pink sparkly nail polish on Long Mei's toenails. 

How did it get to this? He had no idea. 

They had finished watching a movie together when Long Mei grabbed a bottle of nail polish. She had the intention of doing it herself, but she complained it was too difficult. So she asked him to do it. 

Jin Qing had no reason to decline, so he held the bottle, grabbed her feet, and painted coat after coat.

That was when someone barged into the house without warning.